Markets Rebound Despite Negative Reports

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) broke its losing streak and bucked the downward trend today, as it rose 19 points, or 0.14%, and now rests at 14,567. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both also climbed higher by 0.47% and 0.86%, respectively.

The poor housing report is likely the cause for Home Depot's (NYSE: HD) decline. Shares of the-do-it yourself home-improvement store fell 0.19% this afternoon. As homeowners see lower pre-owned homes selling, they may become stingier with their money when it comes to projects around the home. If homeowners feel they may not recoup the investments they make to their home, they will stop doing them, which will hurt Home Depot and its competition.

IBM (NYSE: IBM) fell hard again. The stock dropped 1.14% during today's trading session, after falling more than 8% last Friday, post its earnings announcement. IBM reported first-quarter results that missed on both the top and bottom lines. Investors seem to be questioning whether the once-dominant company is losing its way or advanced technologies are eating the old-timer's lunch. Many analysts are now pointing toward cloud computing as one cause for IBM's decline in revenue and profit this past quarter, and this development has others changing their long-term perceptive of the company.

Shares of Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) dropped by 0.41%. The company recently released executive compensation for last year, in which CEO Mike Duke earned $20.7 million, which was an increase from the $18.1 million he made the prior year. My colleague Alyce Lomax recently pointed out the difference between what an average American worker makes per hour and what some of the top-paid CEOs are paid for one hour of work. For more about the astonishing difference, click here.

Additionally, Wal-Mart announced that three of its board members would be leaving the company. Arne Sorenson, the CEO of Marriott International, is leaving to focus more time on his hotels, while M. Michele Burns and James Breyer, the board's presiding director (both have been board members for more than 10 years) will also be stepping down.

Fool contributor Matt Thalman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Home Depot, and owns shares of IBM. Check back Monday through Friday as Matt explains what caused the Dow's winners and losers of the day and every Saturday for a weekly recap. Follow Matt on Twitter @mthalman5513. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Comments from our Foolish Readers

Help us keep this a respectfully Foolish area! This is a place for our readers to discuss, debate, and learn more about the Foolish investing topic you read about above. Help us keep it clean and safe. If you believe a comment is abusive or otherwise violates our Fool's Rules, please report it via the Report this Comment icon found on every comment.